Coated food fryer

ABSTRACT

A machine for preparing and cooking corn dogs which are batter coated weiners upon a stick has a fry tank and coating bin mounted on a frame. Food articles are impaled by sticks driven through clasps in holes in a stick clamp. The food articles are dipped into a coating substance by elevation of the coating bin. The articles are elevated by rotating or flipping them above the lip of the fry tank and immersed in hot grease within the fry tank, cooked, and then elevated by rotating or flipping them out of the fry tank. The sticks are unclasped from the stick clamps and placed on a receiving tray. Thermostatically controlled heating elements suspended above the floor of the tank heat the grease.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This invention is a divisional application of my prior application filedon Apr. 3, 1978, Ser. No. 893,011, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,379,795.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

This invention relates to foods and more particularly to machines forpreparing and cooking food impaled upon a stick.

(2) Description of the Prior Art

A corn dog is a weiner impaled upon a stick and coated with batter whichis deep-fried to produce a crisp coating.

Prior to my invention corn dogs were made by inserting the sticks intoweiners with a manually operated stick inserter and clamping a pluralityof the sticks into a hand operated clamp. A worker grasped the clamp anddipped the food articles in batter. This worker had to be somewhatskilled in order to obtain the desired amount and distribution of batteraround the weiner. The worker then placed the clamp on a moving conveyorsystem with the food articles immersed in hot grease.

After being immersed in the grease for an appropriate time, the clampswere removed manually from the conveyor system and the sticks manuallyunclamped therefrom. This manual system resulted in non-uniform corndogs and high labor costs. JENKINS, U.S. Pat. No. 1,706,491, is anexample of a cooker for cooking such corn dogs.

ROBB, U.S. Pat. No. 1,960,456, and GLASS, U.S. Pat. No. 3,648,625,disclose apparatuses for making frozen confections or novelties. Thesticks of the novelties are clamped by a conveyor, conveyed to a diptank, dipped in a coating substance, and conveyed to a freezing unit.ROBB employs a displacement of the chain and clamp to dip each of theconfections independently and one at a time within the coatingsubstance. GLASS employs a tilting mechanism to lower the confectionssingly from a raised position slightly below horizontal to a fullylowered position vertically downward to immerse the confections in thecoated substance and then to raise the confections to the former lowerthan horizontal position to remove them from the dip tank.

STICKLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,948,160, discloses a taco shell fryer in whichthe forms for holding the tortillas are lowered into hot grease forfrying the tortillas. Likewise, WRIGHT ET AL, U.S. Pat. No. 2,585,364,dips frankfurters in batter and then conveys them into hot grease withappropriate displacements of the conveyor chain. Neither STICKLE norWRIGHT employs sticks impaling the food articles suspended from clamps.

CHOW, U.S. Pat. No. 3,804,955, forms flat meat products in a corrugatedform and inserts a stick therethrough. CHOW then serially dips thecorrugated meat products suspended from sticks by a conveyor system intoa coating substance with a displacement of the conveyor. With anotherdisplacement of the conveyor the meat product is lowered into a saucebath and conveyed through an oven.

Applicant is also aware of SCHWEBS, U.S. Pat. No. 2,903,996 and FrenchPatent S.E.I.L.A. No. 1,016,435 (1952).

LOWRANCE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,316,010 discloses a stick holder mechanismwherein sticks may be placed in elongated bar and held in place by aninternal bar reciprocating longitudinally. LOWRANCE U.S. Pat. No.4,069,960 issued Jan. 24, 1978 discloses an apparatus for insertingsticks into weiners. The weiners are clamped in a holder, and then thesticks are inserted through a stick holder bar and into the weiners. Thestick holder bar is evidentally similar to the LOWRANCE U.S. Pat. No.3,316,010 patent noted above.

Also, at the time this divisional application was filed, applicant wasaware of patents to CLAY U.S. Pat. No. 2,552,621 and NOUEL U.S. Pat. No.3,242,249 but do not consider them as pertinent as those specificallydiscussed above.

Applicant was also aware of the VOM DORP U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,716 issuedMar. 28, 1978, filed Apr. 25, 1977 and COTTRELL U.S. Pat. No. 4,130,936issued Dec. 26, 1978 and filed Aug. 11, 1977. Applicant does notconsider these two patents as pertinent as those noted and also wouldcontest their being prior as to this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

(1) New and Different Function

I have invented a structure for preparing and cooking corn dogs andother similar deep-fried coated food impaled upon a stick by combining anovel elevation means for moving the food articles from one portion ormodule of an automated frying machine to another portion with automaticelements on the machine for accomplishing various functions which werepreviously performed manually.

The novel elevation means includes rotating the food articles about theaxis of a rod into which the sticks are clamped while moving the rodperpendicular to its axis from one module to another, thereby elevatinga plurality of the food articles above a chain and stick clamp rod andthen lowering the food articles into the next module.

I find it more convenient and feasible to perform a complete 360°rotation of the food articles instead of elevating and then lowering thefood articles. However, if desired, this elevation could be performed bythe simple structure of an arm on the rod contacting a raised track totilt the food articles about 90° above the lip of the fry tank.

The elements of my invention include (1) an automatic stick inserterwhich simultaneously clasps the sticks within the rods and inserts thesticks into the weiners, (2) an improved clasp within the rod forclasping the sticks, (3) an improved dipping operation of a coating bin,(4) an improved apparatus for removing the sticks from the clasps in therods, and (5) an improved apparatus for maintaining the temperature ofthe grease.

The stick inserter is located within a load module of the machine, andperforms insertion of the sticks into the food articles responsive tothe alignment of the sticks, clasps in holes or in the rod, and foodarticles gripped by food grippers. Upon alignment of these elements, aplunger drives the sticks through the clasps, thereby clasping thesticks, and into the food articles. The grippers then release the foodarticles and the clamp rod moves the food articles on the sticks to aposition above a coating bin within a dip module on the machine adjacentthe load module.

To accomplish the dipping, I have solved the problem of displacement ofthe chain which results in undesirable wear and complication of themechanism. Rather than displace the chain to dip the articles in acoating substance, my invention elevates the batter bin. This alsoeliminates changing the orientation of the food articles after theinsertion of the sticks as they move from the load module to the dipmodule. In addition, by controlling the duration of the upward stroke ofthe batter bin and by employing certain horizontal movements of thebatter bin once in the elevated position, superior uniformity anddistribution of the batter on the food article is achieved.

Once the food articles have been dipped in the batter a desired numberof times the food articles are elevated during movement of the clamp rodto allow them to clear the lip of a fry tank having hot grease therein.The fry tank is within a fry module of the machine.

At this point rotation of the food articles through 360° at varyingspeeds of rotation is beneficial. By increasing the speed or rotationduring the first and last parts of the rotation and slowing the rotationwhile the corn dog is inverted, a more uniform distribution of thecoating on the weiner is achieved. The coating collects toward the stickinserted in the food article such that when depended within the greasethe batter will again distribute itself in the desired proportions. Thishelps prevent batter tailings from dropping to the bottom of the frytank from the food articles.

A thermostatically controlled heating element suspended above the floorof the fry tank maintains the temperature of the grease within desirednarrow limits. The coated food articles are deep-fried within the greaseduring the interval in which the clamp rods transverse the length of thefry tank.

Upon reaching the end of the fry tank, the food articles are againrotated or elevated above the lip of the fry tank and lowered to asubstantially downward position within a cooling module of the machine.The rotation permits draining of the grease from portions of the foodarticle.

Upon reaching the end of the frame the food articles are again elevatedand lowered to a substantially horizontal position by 270° rotationconvenient for stripping or unclasping. The value of rotating the foodarticles again becomes evident in that it is desirable to eject the foodarticles with the sticks trailing the food article. The rotationsubstantially facilitates this unloading by allowing the food articlesand sticks to be rotated and rested on an stripper, thereby simplifyingthe structure necessary for ejection.

The stripping is performed within an unload module of the machine by anstripper arm having stick grippers thereon. The sticks are engaged bythe stick grippers and the arm moved on the frame so as to withdraw thesticks radially from the clamp rod. The sticks are then released,thereby dropping the corn dogs onto a receiving tray or conveyor at theend of the frame.

This list of features of my invention is not comprehensive and furtherbenefits and novel features shall appear from the description whichfollows. It should now be apparent, however, that the total function ofmy invention far exceeds the total of the functions of the individualelements: the tanks, gears, rods, etc.

(2) Objects of this Invention

An object of this invention is to prepare food articles.

Another object is to prepare deep-fried coated food articles.

Further objects are to achieve the above with a device that is sturdy,compact, durable, simple, safe, efficient, versatile, ecologicallycompatible, energy conserving, and reliable, yet relatively inexpensiveand easy to manufacture, install, adjust, operate and maintain.

The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects, uses,and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from the followingdescription and from the accompanying drawing, the different views ofwhich are not scale drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of my inventionforeshortened and with parts broken away for clarity. The coating bin isshown in an elevated position in broken lines.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of an automatic stick inserterthereof.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view, foreshortened and with parts broken away forclarity.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the automatic stick inserter takensubstantially on line 4--4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the coating bin taken substantially online 5--5 of FIG. 1. Some parts omitted for clarity and the coating binis shown in a lower position in broken lines.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional detail of the cooling water jacket of thecoating bin which would be an enlargement of that portion shown bybrackets 6 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional detail of the stabilizer taken substantially online 7--7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 8--8 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the stripper element takensubstantially on line 9--9 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view through the clamp rod takensubstantially on line 10--10 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged partial plan view of a portion of the clamp rod.

FIG. 12 is a detail sectional view of the clamp rod showing a rack andpinion of my invention as taken substantially on line 12--12 of FIG. 3with a clamp rod positioned before the rack and pinion and showing inbroken lines the path followed by the center of the clamp rod.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the gripper bars taken substantially online 13--13 of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 are plan views of the food grippers showing them inthe three positions; on FIG. 14 in the full open position, FIG. 15 inthe full closed position and FIG. 16 in the load position.

FIG. 17 is a sectional detail of the return spring as takensubstantially on line 17--17 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 18 is a top plan fragmental view of the stripper bar.

FIG. 19 is an elevational fragmental view of the stripper bar.

FIG. 20 is a back view of the butterfly clamp taken on line 20--20 ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 21 is a sectional view of the butterfly clamp taken on line 21--21of FIG. 20 with the clamp in the collapsed position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The corn dog fryer has six major components arranged on frame 10 whichhas a longitudinal axis. The first component, transport mechanism ormeans 12, is rotatably connected on the frame 10 and provides fortransporting food articles or weiners impaled upon sticks in a processdirection shown by arrow "P" along the frame axis through processingareas of the machine. The second component is load module 50 whichinserts the sticks into the weiners and clamps the sticks into thetransport mechanism 12. The third component is dip module 162 whichcoats the weiners with the batter or other coating substance. The fourthcomponent is fry module 190 which cooks or deep fries the coated weiner.The fifth component is elevation mechanism 210, which moves the corndogs from one module to another. The sixth component is stripper module220 wherein the sticks and weiners with a crispy coating therearound areunloaded from the transport mechanism 12.

Transport Mechanism

The transport mechanism 12 includes a pair of parallel endless transportchains 14 extending on either side of and along the longitudinal axis ofthe frame 10. Chain motor 16 is located on the frame at an end thereofproximate the stripped module 220. Motor chain 18 connects motorsprocket 20 connected to the drive shaft of the chain motor 16 and drivesprocket 22 attached to transport sprockets 24 by drive axle 26 (FIGS. 1and 3).

The drive axle 26 is journalled to drive axle bearings located on theframe. Idler sprockets 30 located at appropriate positions on the frameprovide for maintainin vertical and lateral position of the chains 14 onthe frame 10. The chains 14 travel along the frame 10 and slidablycontact upper chain tracks 32, thereby maintaining the chains 14 in ahorizontal position proximate the top of the frame 10. The chains 14rest on lower return tracks 34 proximate the bottom of the frame 10. Thereturn tracks 34 support the chain above the floor. Each track has awear strip thereon to prevent stretching and wear of the chains 14.

The direction of movement of the chains 14 on the upper chain tracks 32is from the end of the machine at the load module 50 to the end of themachine at the stripped module 220. This is the process directionindicated by the arrow "P". Then the chains go down, return and up.

Rod connectors 36 are spaced at equal distances along each of the chains14 with each connector 36 on one chain 14 being directly oppositeanother connector 36 on the parallel chain 14. Stick clamp means in theform of stick rods 38 are journalled to each pair of the rod connectors36. The transport chains 14 provide for moving the rods 38 extendingtransversely of the longitudinal axis of the frame 10 along thelongitudinal axis of the frame 10 in the process direction.

Spaced stick slots or hole 40 extend through the stick rod 38. The holes40 each have a pair of "C" shaped clasps 42 therein. Referring to FIGS.10 and 11 the clasps 42 may be seen to include a curved strip of springmetal crimped at the ends over the outer surfaces of the rod 38. Thecrimps serve to retain the clasps 42 within the holes 40. The curvedportion of the clasps 42 springably bear against a stick placedtherebetween. I prefer to employ sixteen of the stick holes 40 withpairs of the clasps 42 therein spaced along the stick rod 38 in order toprocess as many corn dogs as feasible with each stick rod 38. The clasps42 form means for independently clasping the sticks. By independentmeans each clasp 42 operates indendently of all other clasps 42.

Each of the food articles has article sides, article ends, and anarticle axis. Each of the sticks has a food end, a clamp end, and astick axis. Each of the sticks is rectangular in cross section andsubstantially flat on two sides to facilitate clasping by the clasps 42.

Load Module

The load module 50 includes food clamper 52, stick inserter 110 andalignment mechanism 147. The food clamper or grip means 52 includes foodslides or slide bars 54 and 56 slidably mounted with respect to eachother within slide mounts 58 (FIGS. 3, 4, 13, 14, 15 and 16). The slidemounts 58 have "TEFLON" lugs 60 fitting within slots 62 in the end ofthe slides 54 and 56. I prefer to place TEFLON wear strips 66 on the lugand between back up plate 64 and the slide mount 58 to prevent wear ofthe steel parts and to increase the useful life of the mechanism. Inaddition, TEFLON resists deterioration because of grease, smoke and thelike normally present in such frying operations. The back up plate 64,lugs 60 and TEFLON wear strips 66 are secured to the slide mount by lugbolts 68.

Food grippers include gripper halves 72 and 74. The gripper halves 72are connected to the food slides 54 and the gripper halves 74 areconnected to the food slides 56. The inner surface of each gripper half72 and 74 conforms to the shape of the food article being processed. Forthe corn dog fryer, I prefer to employ a concave semi-circular shape forthe length of the food grippers to fit the shape of the weiners.

The gripper halves 72 and 74 are each bolted to their respective slides54 and 56 by gripper bolts 76. Bottom plates (not shown for clarity) arelocated at the bottom of each pair of gripper halves 72 and 74 and areof sufficient dimensions such that the bottom of the cavity between thefood grippers is sealed off. Food articles for this embodiment(weiners), are thus prevented from falling through the bottom of thefood grippers. The bottom plates are connected to the bottom slide 56 byplate bolts.

Clamper cylinder 82 interconnects cylinder plates 84 and 86 (FIG. 4).The plates are bolted with bolts 88 to the food slides 54 and 56,respectively. When the cylinder 82 is fully extended the lugs 60 willabut against the end of the slots 62, thereby moving the gripper halves72 and 74 away from each other. When the cylinder 82 is retracted thegripper halves will move toward one another until the other end of theslots 62 bears against the other end of the lug 60. By adjusting thepositions of the slide bars 54 and 56 or the position of the lugs thedistance between the food gripper halves 72 and 74 may be adjusted inthe closed position thereby insuring proper gripping of the foodarticles.

As shown by FIGS. 14, 15 and 16, I prefer to employ three positions ofthe gripper halves 72 and 74. The position shown in FIG. 15, called thegrip position, is such that the gripper halves 72 and 74 are broughtproximate one another with the cross section of the gripper halves 72and 74 being slightly less than the cross section of the food articleplaced therein, thus clamping or gripping the food article between thegripper halves.

The position shown in FIG. 16, called the load position, is such thatthe gripper halves are spaced apart a greater distance than in the gripposition but not so far apart as to allow the food article to exit thespace between the fronts of the grippers. In this position the crosssection of the area between the grippers is slightly greater than thecross section of the food article.

The position shown in FIG. 14, called the unload position, is such thatthe gripper halves 72 and 74 are spaced apart a maximum amount which issufficient to allow the food article placed therein to exit the spacebetween the fronts of the gripper halves 72 and 74.

Spring returns 90 and 92 are connected to the slide mounts 58 oppositethe ends of the slides 54 and 56 (FIGS. 4 and 17). The spring returnseach have return housing 94, return rods 96 slidably telescoped withinreturn holes 98 in the return housing 94, and return springs 100 withinthe return holes 98.

The return rods 96 of the spring returns 90 and 92 are located such thatwhen the slide bars 54 and 56 are extended such that the gripper halves72 and 74 are moved apart; the return rods 96 will engage the ends ofthe slides 54 and 56, respectively, to move the slides in a firstdirection such that the gripper halves 72 and 74 are moved to a loadposition intermediate the unload and grip positions. Thus, the springreturns 90 and 92 provide for placing the slides 54 and 56 and gripperhalves 72 and 74 in the load position and the extension and retractionof the cylinder 82 provides for placing the slides 54 and 56 and gripperhalves 72 and 74 in the grip and unload positions.

The food clamper 52 is slidably mounted on the frame 10 for alignmentpurposes described later. Food clamper frame 65, including slide mounts58, is attached to upper and lower linear bushings 102 and 104telescoped over upper and lower clamper rods 106 and 108, respectively,rigidly attached to and axial of the frame 10.

The stick inserter or plunge means 110 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) includesmagazine 112 for holding flat sticks, guide slots 128 for guiding thesticks vertically downwards, and plunger 130 for driving the sticksdownward. The magazine 112 has upper and lower plates 114 and 116,respectively, connected by side braces 118 on the sides of the magazine112. This forms a rectangular cavity between the upper and lower plates114 and 116. The upper and lower plates 114 and 116 have pairs ofvertically aligned stick slots 120 therein which slidably receive theends of sticks placed therein. Butterfly clamps 121 are resilientlyconnected to the magazine 112 by rubber tubes 122. The butterfly clamps121 bear against pairs of the rows of sticks and biases them towardsguide plate 126 at the front of the magazine 112.

Each of the butterfly clamps 121 includes stick plates 123 hinged by pin127 to eye bolt 124. The rubber tube 122 interconnects the guide plate126 and the eye bolt 124. Packages of sticks may be loaded into themagazine simply by placing the packages of sticks within the stick slots120 in the upper and lower plates 114 and 116, hooking eye 125 on theeye bolt 124, and pulling the eye 125 toward the rear of the magazine112, thereby folding the stick plates 123 back as seen in FIG. 21. Thestick plates are then extended once they have cleared the end of thepackages being loaded. The clamp 121 is engaged with the packages ofsticks, thereby biasing all of the sticks within each of slots 120toward the guide plate 126.

The guide plate 126 is vertically disposed and has guide slots 128located therein alligned at the ends thereof with the stick slots 120.This forms a receptacle for the sticks biased against the guide plate126 by the stick plate 123. The upper and lower plates 114 and 116 ofthe magazine 112 are of sufficient size to enable the loading of manysticks in each slot 120, such that an operator loading sticks may devotehis attentions to other activities of the machine. Although sixteen ofthe slots 120 and 126 are shown, it will be understood that the machinecould process more or less sticks and food articles simultaneously.

Plunger 130 is connected to the magazine 112 and includes plunger rods132 vertically above and aligned with the guide slots 128. The plungerrods 132 are rigidly depended from plunger bar 134. The plunger bar 134is rigidly connected to plunger bushings 136 telescoped over the plungerslides 137 verticaly disposed and rigidly attached to the magazine 112.Plunger cylinder 140 interconnects the magazine and the plunger bar 134.When retracted the plunger cylinder 140 drives the plunger rods 132depended from the plunger bar 134 downward within the guide slots 128,thereby driving the sticks within the slots 128 downward.

The sides of the guide plate 126 extend beyond the side braces 118 ofthe magazine 112. Inserter bushings 102 are connected to the guide plate126 and are telescoped over the upper rod 106 opposite the upper clamperbushings 142. Magazine rod 144 extends beyond the magazine 112 and restson magazine support 146 attached to the frame 10. Thus, the inserterbushings 102 and magazine rod 144 and support 146 provide support forand guide the magazine 112 for axial reciprocation along the frame 10.The clamper frame 65 may be brought in contact with the guide plate 126by appropriate movements of the magazine 112 and clamper 52.

The alignment mechanism or means 147 includes alignment rods 148connected to alignment cylinders 150. The alignment cylinders 150 areconnected to the magazine 112 on each side thereof. When the alignmentcylinder 150 is extended the alignment rod 148 obstructs the movement ofthe stick rod 38 along the frame 10. When the stick rod 38 contacts thealignment rods it slides the magazine 112 along the magazine rod 146 andupper rods 106 until the guide plate 126 contacts the clamper frame 65and causes it to slide with the magazine 112 and stick rod 38. Once thestick rod 38 engages the alignment rod 148 and the guide plate 126engages the clamper frame, the sticks in the guide slots 120 will bealigned with the stick slots 40 in the stick rod 38 and the center lineof the food articles or weiners within the gripper halves 72 and 74.

Return means in the form of springs 152 connecting the clamper 52 to theframe 10 return the clamper 52. Spring 153 connects the frame 10 and theinserter 110 to position suitable for hand loading the weiners or foodarticles into the food grippers 70 (FIG. 3). The clamping or gripping ofthe food articles is initiated by retracting the clamper cylinder 82,and the insertion of the sticks by retracting the plunge cylinders 128,with microswitches located on the frame 10 such that as a rod connector36 passes and engages each microswitch an appropriate function occurs.

It may be seen from the previous description that the stick rods are thecritical timing feature of this particular embodiment. The stick rod 38to be loaded contacts the alignment rods 148 on the cylinders 150,thereby sliding the magazine 112 and guide plate along the frame axisstretching spring 153. The guide plate 126 contacts the clamper frame 65and moves it stretching the spring 152, thereby aligning the sticks,slots 40 and food articles as described previously.

Immediately after the alignment occurs, a sensed rod connector 36contacts load microswitch 154 located on the frame at the load endthereof. The cam shape of the rod connector 36 maintains the loadmicroswitch in the depressed or closed position for the duration of thetravel of the stick rod 38 thereon past the load microswitch 154. Uponthe closing of the load microswitch 154, the clamper cylinder 82extends, thereby causing gripper halves 72 and 74 to grip the foodarticles. Simultaneously the plunger cylinder 140 retracts, therebydriving an insertion end of the sticks into the food articles andthrough the holes 40.

Unload microswitch 156 is located at another position on the frame 10 atthe load end thereof, performs an equivalent function for releasing thefood articles and placing the gripper halves 72 and 74 in the unloadposition, extending the plunger cylinder 140, and retracting alignmentcylinder 150 to disengage the rod 148 from the stick rod 38 beingloaded. It may be seen that the speed of the chain is such that theunload microswitch 156 will be depressed by the rod connector 36 aperiod of sufficient duration to allow completion of the operationsbeing performed.

It should be noted that the clamper cylinder 82 is of the type that itis in a neutral position when neither the load nor unload microswitch154 nor 156 is depressed.

Dip Module

The dip module 162 has coating bin 164 vertically oscillated by binelevator 166, which interconnects bin frame 168 and elevator frame 170.The elevator frame 170 has vertically oriented elevator bushings 172connected thereto. Elevator rods 174 vertically oriented and rigidlyconnected to the bin frame 168 are telescoped through the elevatorbushings 172. The elevator rods have stops 176 on the ends thereof whichlimit the upward travel of the rods 174 within the elevator bushings172. The bin elevator 166 is an air stroke actuator (which is basicallyan inflatable rubber bellows) which when inflated elevates the bin 164upward and when deflated allows the bin 164 to be lowered. Each up anddown movement of the coating bin 164 is a dip stroke.

It is desirable to maintain the batter or coating substance within thecoating bin 164 at a cool temperature to insure that the batter sticksto the weiner and rapidly expands on contact with hot grease in the frymodule. Therefore, the coating bin 164 has water jacket 173 in the wallsthereof through which water is circulated during operation of thecoating bin 164 (FIG. 6). Water inlet 175 and outlet 177 connect thewater jacket 173 to a source of water and a sink of water respectively.The coating bin 164 also has feed opening 178 in the wall thereof forfeeding additional batter or coating substance into the coating bin 164.

In order to obtain the appropriate period of immersion of the foodarticle in the coating substance or batter within the coating bin 164, Iprefer to employ dip or bin microswitch 158 (shown in FIG. 8 forclarity) on the frame at the load end thereof to activate the elevator166 to elevate the bin 164. When the dip microswitch 158 is closed theelevator 166 elevates the bin and maintains it at the top of a dipstroke while the dip microswitch 158 remains closed. When opened bydisconnection with the rod connectors 36, the elevator 166 isdeactivated to lower the bin 164 and permits another stick rod andplurality of weiners to be positioned above the bin 164.

For this particular embodiment, the coating bin 164 is elevatedapproximately six inches (15 cm.) to immerse the food article in thebatter or coating substance. The level of batter within the bin 164 maybe adjusted by varying the input rate of batter through the feed opening178 to insure that the food article is completely coated. Thus for theperiod in which the food article is gripped by the food grippers 70, thefood articles depended from the stick rods 38 will be immersed inbatter. Upon release of the food article by the food gripper 70 thecoating bin will again be lowered.

I have discovered that it is extemely beneficial to jerk the coating bin164 in the process direction during the immersion of the food articlesin the batter. Upon elevation of the coating bin 164 as the foodarticles move through the batter with the stick rods 38 pulled by thechains 14 the food articles leaves a wake in the batter and there is abuild up of batter in front of the food article in the processdirection. By jerking the batter bin in the direction of movement of thestick rods, the movement of batter is greater than the movement of thefood article and batter coating substance builds up on the rear of thefood article opposite the process direction.

The elevator frame 170 has horizontally oriented jerk bushings 179connected thereto. Jerk rods 180 are rigidly attached to the frame 10and telescoped through the jerk bushings 179. Jerk cylinder 182interconnects the elevator frame 170 and the frame 10 such that when thejerk cylinder 182 is extended, the elevator frame 170, and therefore thecoating bin 164, are jerked along the frame axis.

When the jerk cylinder 182 is extended, the coating bin 164 is jerked inthe direction of movement (process direction) of the stick rods 38. Whenretracted, the coating bin 164 is jerked in the opposite direction. Iprefer to employ jerk microswitch on the frame 10 to extend and retractthe jerk cylinder 182. When the bin 164 is at the top of the dip strokethe jerk microswitch is closed by a rod connector 36 to activate thejerk cylinder 182. The cylinder 182 is extended to quickly move thecoating bin 164 in the process direction. After the return of the bin164 to the lowered position, the stick rod disconnects from themicroswitch 160 and the jerk cylinder 182 is retracted to return thecoating bin 164 to its former or ready position.

Fry Module

The fry module 190 includes fry tank 192 connected to the frame 10 withhot grease therein. The level of the grease within the fry tank 192 issuch that the food article depended from the stick rod 38 will becompletely immersed therein. Therefore, lip 196 of the fry tank 192 mustbe above the level of the grease. In addition, tank floor 198 must be atleast deeper than the length of the food articles. I also prefer toplace electrical heating elements 200 within the hot grease andsuspended above the floor 198 about 25 mm (1 inch) to heat the grease(FIG. 8).

I have discovered that the grease heated with this structure requiresless power to maintain the high temperatures required, does not burntailings and other debris on the bottom of the tank floor, as do tanksheated from the bottom. My structure also maintains a more uniformtemperature throughout the tank. I prefer to thermostatically controlthe heating elements 200 with temperature control connected to the frame10 away from the fry tank and temperature sensor located in the greaseat the end of the fry tank 192 proximate the coating bin 164. I havediscovered that inasmuch as the greatest temperature loss is encounteredimmediately after immersion of the coated weiner in the hot grease andthat this position best senses the temperature requirements of the frytank 192.

Although not absolutely necessary for the functioning of my invention, Ihave found it desirable to include cooling module 216 between the unloadmodule 220 and the fry module 190 within which the fried food articlesare cooled and drained. The cooling module has open space 218 to allowthe corn dogs to cool and drain prior to unloading. If desired, coolingfans or the like may be placed therein.

Flip Mechanism

The elevation mechanism 210 includes pinions or pinion gears 212connected to and mounted around the stick rod 38, and racks 214 mountedon the frame 10 proximate an obstacle or boundary between two modulesand proximate the chains 14. As the stick rod 38 is moved longitudinallyalong the frame 10 by the chains 14 the pinions 212 will engage theracks 214 and rotate the food articles and revolve the rod 38 about theclamp axis of the pinions 212. This rotation will elevate the foodarticle above the obstruction and above the chains 14.

I have discovered that it is desirable to increase the speed of rotationof the food articles such that the food article is flipped out of one ofthe modules, rotated more slowly at the top of the rotation, and flippedquickly into the adjacent module. Therefore, I have found the followingstructure to be most advantageous in accomplishing this desired result.The pinion 212 is eccentric of the stick rod 38. The axis of the stickrod is in the process direction of the axis of the pinion at the restposition as shown (FIG. 12). In this manner, the speed of rotation ofthe stick rod 38 is increased during the first portion of the rotation,decreased until the middle of the rotation and then increased for thefinal portion of the rotation.

I have also discovered that problems are experienced with slack in thechain that permits the pinion gear 212 to be disengaged from the rack214 during travel of the chain 14. Therefore, it is preferable toelevate the rod 38 during the rotation, especially when the foodarticles on the sticks are almost horizontal. Therefore, I prefer toemploy a rack shaped as shown in FIG. 12, such that the pinions 212elevate the rods 38, thereby stretching the chain 14 and maintaining thepinions 212 in contact with the racks 214. FIG. 12 shows also the pathof the stick rod 38 in dashed lines with respect to the normalorientation of the stick rod and the rack 214.

Three elevation mechanisms 210 are employed to move the food articles.The first elevation mechanism 210 is located at the obstruction of thefry tank or boundary between the coating or dip module 162 and the frymodule 190 such that after the second elevation of the coating bin 164,the food article is rotated as previously described and immersed withinthe hot grease 194 in the fry tank 192.

I prefer to place another elevation module 210 at the boundary betweenthe fry module 190 and the cooling module 216. Thus, as the stick rod 38with the sixteen food articles approaches the end of the fry tank 192,the food articles are rotated out of the hot grease 194 to a positionvertically depending from the stick rods 38 within the cooling space218.

I prefer to employ the third elevation module 210 at the boundarybetween the cooling module 216 and the unload module 220. As the foodarticle reaches the end of the cooling module 216, the food articles arerotated approximately 270° to a substantially horizontal positionconvenient for unclamping the sticks from the stick rods 38. Uponreaching the horizontal position, the pinions 212 are disengaged from ashortened rack 214 (shown in phantom lines in FIG. 9.).

Unload Module

The unload module 220 includes stripper frame 222. The stripper frame222 slidably attaches to the end of the frame 10 substantially parallelto the stick rods 38 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 9). Stripper rods 226 extendaxially of the frame 10 and are rigidly attached to the stripper frame222. Stripper bushings 228 are rigidly connected to the frame 10. Therods 226 are telescoped in the stripper bushings 228. The stripper rods226 have stops 230 on the ends thereof for limiting the travel of thestripper rods 226 within the stripper bushings 228.

Stripper cylinders 232 interconnect the frame 10 with the stripper frame222. When retracted, the cylinders 232 move the stripper frame 222 androds 226 within the bushings 228 toward the end of the frame 10 andtoward the stick rod 38 in the position convenient for unclamping. Whenretracted, the stripper cylinders 232 extend the stripper frame 222toward the stick rods 38.

Stripper slide 234 is slidably telescoped on the support bar 238 (FIGS.9, 18 and 19). Support bar 238 is rigidly attached to the forward end ofthe stripper rods 226 and, thus, in effect to the stripper frame 222.Thus, it might be said that the support bar 238 with the stripper bars226 and the stripper frame 222 together form this frame. Cylinder arm240 is rigidly connected to the bottom of the stripper slide 234 andextends through an arm slot in the support bar 238. Slide cylinder 244interconnects the cylinder arm 240 and the support bar 238.

When the slide cylinder 244 is extended, stick gripper rods 246vertically extending from the stripper slide 234 are brought proximatestick gripper rods 248 vertically extending from the support bar 238.The stick gripper rods 248 extend from the support bar 238 through rodslots 247 in the stripper slide 234. The gripper rods 246 and 248 arealigned. The gripper rods 248 remain stationary and the stick gripperrods 246 reciprocate back and forth. It may be seen that the rod slots247 are of sufficient dimensions that the stripper slide 234 mayreciprocate freely. When the slide cylinder 244 is in the extendedposition, the stick gripper rods 246 and 248 grip sticks clasped withinthe stick rod 38. When the slide cylinder 244 is in the extendedposition and the stripper cylinders 232 are retracted, the sticks arewithdrawn radially from the clasps 42 within the stick holes 40. A stopis welded to the underside of the support bar 238 against which thecylinder arm 240 abuts when the rods 246 and 248 are slightly less apartthan the width of the stick. When the slide cylinder 244 is retracted,the stick gripper rods 246 and 248 will release the sticks after thestripper cylinders 232 have been retracted. A receiving tray or conveyor(not shown) is conveniently attached to the end of the frame 10 forreceiving the corn dogs or coated food articles released by the stickgrippers 246 and 248. It will be understood that this tray can beadapted for automatic packaging systems or for manual unloading asdesired. Slap bar 250 is attached to the support bar 238 by a pluralityof fingers 252. When the corn dogs are laid in a horizontal position, asseen in FIG. 9, by the rotation of the stick rods 238 the dog itselfhits the slap bar 250. This prevents the stick from breaking as thestick hits the top of the stripper slide 234. It will be understood thatthe rack 214 no longer causes the stick rod 38 to rotate but themomentum of the weiner otherwise would cause difficulty at this point.

In order to perform the appropriate operation of the unload module, Iprefer to employ microswitches contacted by the stick rods 38 similar tothe operation of the load and coating modules. Therefore, the readyposition for unloading with the unload module 220 is with the strippercylinders 232 in the fully extended position. Therefore, prior tocompletion of the rotation of the corn dogs from the cooling module 216,one of the stick rods 38 at the unloading end of the frame as indicatedin the drawing contacts stripper microswitch (not shown for clarity).After contact of the stripper microswitch the sripper cylinders 232 arefully contracted.

Upon completion of the rotation of the corn dogs from the cooling module216, the sticks are rested horizontally on the stripper slide 238 andslap bar 250. Immediately after the sticks are rested horizontally onthe stripper slide 234, one of the rod connectors 36 contacts gripperrod microswitch positioned on the frame 10 at the unload end thereof,thereby closing the gripper rod microswitch. This causes the slidecylinder 244 to extend thereby causing the stick gripper rods 246 and248 to engage and grip the sticks. Simultaneously the stripper cylinders232 are extended to move the slide frame rigidly away from the stick rod38 being unloaded, thereby withdrawing the sticks from the clasps 42within the stick holes 40. It will be understood that the slide cylinder244 is of such construction that it completes its operation before thestripper cylinders 232 begin their retraction. Thus, the stick gripperrods 246 and 248 grip the sticks prior to retraction of the strippercylinders 232.

After the stripper cylinders 232 are fully extended the rod connector 36which contacted the gripper rod microswitch is disconnected therefrom bymovement of the chains 14, thereby opening the microswitch and releasingthe slide cylinder 244. The releasing of the slide cylinder 244 causesthe stick gripper rods 246 and 248 to disengage and ungrip the sticks.The released corn dogs fall on the receiving tray or conveyorconveniently positioned at the end of the frame 10.

It will be apparent that the stripper cylinders 232 will remain in theextended position until another rod connector 36 contacts the strippermicroswitch. Those with ordinary skill in the food processing machineart would be able to make necessary pneumatic mechanical and electricalconnections to accomplish the above operations with the microswitches inthe positions indicated.

Stabilizer

Stabilizer or arm 260 is rigidly attached to and extends perpendicularto an end of each of the stick rods 38. The arm 260 is perpendicularlyand trailingly oriented with respect to the center lines of the holes 40within the stick rods 38. The arm 260 slidably engages channels 262attached to the frame 10 at a position above and outboard of one of theupper chain tracks 32. The channels 262 are positioned on the frame 10at the following positions.

One of the channels 262 is placed within the load module 50 such thatthe arm 260 is horizontal and the holes 40 within the stick rod 38vertically oriented during the insertion of the sticks through the holes40 and between the clasps 42 (FIG. 4). Another channel 262 is positionedadjacent the dip module 162 such that the holes 40 and the stickstherein are vertically oriented during the dipping of the food articlesinto the batter (FIG. 5). A third channel 262 is positioned adjacent thefry module such that the food articles with batter or coating substancetherearound are oriented vertically within the hot grease (FIG. 8). Itshould be apparent that there are no channels at the positions of theelevation modules inasmuch as the arm 260 engaging the channel 262 wouldprevent rotation of the stick rod 38.

OPERATION

Therefore, with the elements assembled as described above, the operationof this embodiment of my invention may be seen to occur as follows. Thechain is moved along the frame axis by starting the motor 16. Thecontrols for starting the motor and the electrical circuitry required toconnect the microswitches to the operating parts of the machine have notbeen disclosed inasmuch as those with ordinary skill in the art of foodpreparation machines will be familiar with and able to make thenecessary connections. Prepackaged rows of the sticks are loaded intothe magazine 112 and the butterfly clamp 121 placed upon the rows ofsticks in the magazine to bias them against the guide plate 126. Forthis embodiment, I have employed sixteen corn dogs per stick rod.Therefore, sixteen packs of sticks will be within the guide slots 128.

Batter or coating substance is placed within the coating bin 164. Theheating elements 200 are activated by setting temperature control atapproximately 171° C. (340° F.). Once these steps have been performedthe machine is ready prepare and cook corn dogs.

The weiners are manually loaded into the food clamper 52 between thegripper halves 72 and 74, which are maintained in the load position bythe spring return 90 and 92. One of the stick rods 38 approaches theguide plate of the stick inserter, and the extended alignment rod 148 isengaged by the stick rod 38. The stick rod 38 slides the magazine 112axially along the frame 10 extending the spring 153.

The ends of the guide plate 126 of the stick inserter 110 engage theends of the clamper frame 65, thereby aligning the sticks within theguide slots 128, the holes within the stick rod 38, and the foodarticles between the gripper halves 72 and 74. The gripper moves alongwith the stick rod 38 extending the spring 152. The stabilizing arm 260on the stick rod 38 engages the channel 262 to maintain the holes 40within the stick rod 38 in a vertical orientation.

Immediately after the alignment of the sticks, the stick holes 40, andthe food articles, one of the sensed rod connectors 36 closes the insertmicroswitch 154, thereby retracting the clamper cylinder 82 to place thegripper halves 72 and 74 in the grip position. Simultaneously, theclosing of the insert microswitch 154 retracts the plunger cylinder 140,thereby driving the plunger rods 132 within the guide slots 128 againstthe sticks and inserting them through the stick holes 40 in the stickrod 38 into the food articles within the grippers 70. The clasps 42clasp the sticks within the stick holes 40.

Immediately thereafter one of the sensed rod connectors 36 contacts theunload microswitch 156, thereby (1) extending the plunger cylinder 140,removing the plunger rods 132 from within the guide slots and allowingthe biasing of another set of sixteen sticks within the sixteen guideslots 128; (2) extending the clamper 82 to place the gripper halves 72and 74 in the unload position; and (3) retracting the alignment cylinder150 and disengaging the alignment rod 148 with the stick rod 38.

Immediately after the alignment rod is disengaged from the stick rod 38,the stick rod 38 will convey the food articles and sticks from betweenthe gripper halves 72 and 74. The return springs 152 and 153 will returnthe clamper frame 65 and the magazine 112 to the ready positions. Theclamper frame 65 is stopped by the stops 109 on the lower rods 108.

After the unload microswitch 156 has been disconnected from the rodconnector 36, the alignment cylinder 150 will extend the alignment rod148 in readiness for another stick rod 38 to be loaded. The clampercylinder 82 will be placed in a neutral position, thereby permitting thespring returns 92 to place the gripper halves 72 and 74 in the loadposition.

Weiners are then loaded into the grippers 70 preparatory to a repetitionof the above steps. Packages of sticks are also periodically loaded intothe magazine 112, by repositioning the butterfly clamps 121 aspreviously described.

The stick rod 38 conveys the food articles impaled upon the sticksdepended upon the stick rod 38 to a position within the dip module 162over the coating bin 164. Immediately after the food article ispositioned above the coating bin 164, one of the sensed rod connectors36 contacts the bin microswitch 158 to actuate the bin elevator 166. Thecoating bin 164 is elevated to the top of a first dip stroke andmaintained thereat until the sensed rod connector 36 is removed from thebin microswitch 158, thereby opening it and returning the coating bin164 to the bottom of the dip stroke. I find the time delay for the rodconnector 36 to pass the bin microswitch 158 closely approximates theproper duration of immersion of the weiner in the batter or coatingsubstance.

While the coating bin 164 is at the top of the dip stroke and while thebin microswitch 158 is closed, another sensed rod connector 36 contactsthe jerk microswitch, thereby extending the jerk cylinder 182 andjerking the coating 164 in the process direction. The jerk cylinderremains in the extended position.

After the bin microswitch 158 is disconnected and the coating bin 164 islowered, the jerk microswitch will be disconnected and the jerk cylinder182 retracted to place the coating bin in the ready position for thenext elevation thereof. As another pair of sensed rod connectors 36contact the bin and jerk microswitches, a second dip stroke occurs,thereby double dipping the weiners prior to elevation or rotation intothe fry module.

As the stick rod 38 approaches the obstacle of the fry. tank 192, thepinions 212 engage the racks 214 on the frame 10 and the coated weinersare rotated from a position over the coating bin 164 to within the hotgrease 194. The stabilizer arm 260 engages the arm guide 262 on theframe 10 proximate the chain 14 to maintain the weiners with battertherearound in a vertically downward position within the hot grease 194.By maintaining the weiner in a vertical orientation, the frying of thebatter and weiner is uniform throughout.

The stick rod 38 conveys the weiners through the hot grease. Uponreaching the obstacle of the end of the fry tank 192, the pinion 212engages another of the racks 214 on the frame 10 at the obstacle betweenthe cooling module 216 and the fry module 190. The food articles arerotated from the hot grease 194 to within the cooling space 218. Thestick rod 38 conveys the corn dogs through the draining and cooling area216 to a position proximate the unload module 220.

The pinion 212 engages another of the racks 214 at the boundary betweenthe unload module 220 and the cooling module 216. It will be noted thatthe rack 214 at this position is shorter in order to rotate the foodarticles approximately 270°. This shorter rotation allows the pinion 212to be disengaged from the rack 214 to rest the product horizontally uponthe stripper slide 234 and slap bar 250 of the unload module 220.

With the sticks resting horizontally on the stripper slide 234, theslide cylinder 244 is retracted, thereby gripping the sticks with thestick gripper rods 246 and 248. Simultaneous with the gripping of thesticks, the stripper cylinders 232 are extended, thereby quickly movingthe sticks and weiners away from and radially of the slide rod 38,thereby withdrawing the sticks from the clasps 42 within the stick holes40.

After the retraction of the stripper cylinders 232, the slide cylinder244 is extended to disengage the stick gripper rods 246 and 248 from thesticks, thereby releasing them. The cooked corn dogs are then removedfrom the receiving tray manually, or from the conveyor automatically,and packaged. Preceding the rotation of the corn dog from the coolingmodule, the stripper cylinders 232 are retracted to place the slideframe in the ready position for unloading sticks from another stick rod38.

Therefore, I have invented this novel and useful apparatus and methodfor preparing coated food articles impaled upon sticks. I prefer toprepare sixteen corn dogs for each stick rod. However, more or less corndogs could be produced per stick rod or clamp means in the event ofdifferent operating conditions, e.g. automatic loading and unloading.

The embodiment shown and described above is only exemplary. I do notclaim to have invented all the parts, elements or steps described.Various modifications can be made in the construction, material,arrangement, and operation, and still be within the scope of myinvention. The limits of the invention and the bounds of the patentprotection are measured by and defined in the following claims. Therestrictive description and drawing of the specific example above do notpoint out what an infringement of this patent would be, but are toenable the reader to make and use the invention.

I claim as my invention:
 1. In a machine for preparing and frying coatedfood articles impaled upon sticks includinga. clamp means for claspingsaid sticks, b. a fry tank with hot grease therein, c. a coating binwith a coating substance therein, the improved structure comprising incombination with the above: d. a frame having a frame axis, e. saidframe having attached thereto in order along the frame axis(i) a loadmodule, (ii) a coating module, (iii) a fry module, and (iv) an unloadmodule, f. said coating bin connected to said frame within said coatingmodule, g. said fry tank connected to said frame within said fry module,h. a chain on the frame for horizontally moving the clamp means from theload module to the coating module to the fry module to the unload moduleand down and return and up to the load module, j. said clamp means is onthe chain, k. elevating means on each end of the fry tank for elevatingthe sticks and food thereon above the chain and above obstacles tomovement of said food articles, m. dip means connected to said frame forelevating the coating bin and dipping said food articles in said coatingbin, and n. unload means connected to said frame for unclasping saidsticks within said unload module.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1further comprising:o. a heating element suspended within said liquidcooking medium approximately 25 cm above the floor of said fry tank, andp. said heating element being thermostatically controlled, q. saidheating element providing means for heating said liquid cooking mediumto approximately 171° centigrade without excessively heating the floorof said fry tank.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 1 furthercomprising:o. said clamp means including(i) a rod having an axis (ii) aplurality of stick holes evenly spaced along and extending diametricallythrough said rod, and (iii) individual clasps for clasping said stickswithin each of said holes, p. each of said clasps being a C-shaped stripof resilient material fixed within said stick hole.
 4. The invention asdefined in claim 3 further comprising:q. a stabilizer arm connected toone end of said rod perpendicular to the holes within said rod adaptedto slide in a channel on the frame forming a stabilizer guide, r. saidstabilizer arm providing means for maintaining said sticks and said foodarticles in a substantially downward vertical position.
 5. The inventionas defined in claim 1 wherein:o. said stripper means functions bygripping said sticks and withdrawing them from said clamp means, p. saidstripper means including(i) elongated stick slides slidably mounted withrespect to each other, (ii) stick grippers attached to said stickslides, (iii) slide extension means connecting said stick slides forsliding at least one of said stick slides with respect to the other sothat (iv) said slide extension means when extending moves said stickgrippers apart to release said sticks and when retracting moves saidstick grippers together to grip said stick, (v) said stick slides andsaid slide extension means being mounted on an stripper arm, and (vi)said stripper arm being mounted on said frame such that said stripperarm is movable in alignment with said sticks, and (vii) arm drive meansfor reciprocating said stripper arm, and q. a receiver to receive saidcoated food when released by said stripper means.
 6. The invention asdefined in claim 1 further comprising:o. automatic insert meansconnected to said frame within said load area for impaling said foodarticles upon said sticks each of which has a food end and clamp end andclasping said sticks with said clamp means including(i) grip means forgripping the sides of said food articles responsive to one of said clampmeans being at a load position on said frame, (ii) plunge means fordriving said food end of said stick into said food article responsive toone of said clamp means being at an insert position on said frame, (iii)said plunge means also providing the function of driving said sticksthrough clasps on said clamp means, thereby clasping the clamp end ofsaid sticks within said clasps, and (iv) alignment means for aligningsaid clamp means, said food articles within said grip means, and saidsticks within said plunge means responsive to one of said clamp meansbeing proximate said plunge position, p. said grip means and said plungemeans being axially slidably mounted on said frame; q. said alignmentmeans including(i) a grip tab on said grip means engaged by said clampmeans such that said grip means moves axially with said clamp means whensaid food articles with said grip means and stick holes within saidclamp means are aligned, (ii) a magazine tab on the plunge means engagedby said clamp means such that when said plunge means and said clampmeans move axially of said frame said sticks within said plunge meansare aligned with said stick holes within said clamp means, (iii) plungerinitiation means for activating said plunge means responsive toalignment of said clamp means, said grip means and said plunge means,and (iv) return means for axially moving said grip means and said plungemeans back to initial grip and plunge positions.
 7. The invention asdefined in claim 1 further comprising:o. feed means connected to saidbin for feeding said coating substance from a source to said bin suchthat an adequate level of coating substance within said bin ismaintained, p. said coating bin being movably connected to a frame, q.said clamp means being horizontally movably mounted on said frame in aprocess direction above said bin with said food articles impaled on saidsticks depended therefrom, r. dip means for elevating and lowering saidbin(i) to a top of a dip stroke at which point said food articles onsticks clamped in said clamp means are dipped in said coating substance,and (ii) to a bottom of said dip stroke at which point said foodarticles are above said coating substance, s. said dip strokes beingperiodic such that in a coating period during which said clamp means areabove said bin at least one stroke will occur, t. said dip means beingaxially slidably mounted on said frame, u. said dip means furtherincluding jerk means interconnecting said bin for moving said bin alongsaid frame axis in said process direction from a rest position, v. saidjerk means also providing for returning said bin to the rest position.8. The invention as defined in claim 1 further comprising:o. said clampmeans having a horizontal clamp axis transverse of the frame axis, p.said elevating means including clamp rotation means for revolving saidclamp means about said clamp axis.
 9. In a machine for preparing coatedfood articles impaled upon sticks includinga. clamp means for claspingsaid sticks, b. a coating bin with a coating substance therein;theimproved structure for automatically dipping said food articlessuspended from said clamp means into said coating bin comprising incombination with the above: c. feed means for feeding coating substancefrom a source to said coating bin such that an adequate level of saidsubstance within said coating bin is maintained, d. said coating binbeing movably connected to a frame, e. said clamp means beinghorizontally movably mounted on said frame in a process direction abovesaid bin with said food articles impaled on said sticks dependedtherefrom, and f. means on said frame for moving said coating binvertically relative to said frame and horizontally relative to saidframe and to said clamp means.
 10. The invention as defined in claim 9wherein said means for moving includesg. jerk means interconnecting saidcoating bin and said frame for quickly moving said bin horizontally in aprocess direction.
 11. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein saidmeans for moving includesg. dip means for elevating and lowering saidbin to a top of a dip stroke at which point said food articles on sticksclamped in said clamp means are dipped in said coating substance and toa bottom of said dip stroke at which point said food articles are abovesaid coating substance, h. said dip strokes being periodic such that ina coating period during which said clamp means are above said bin atleast one stroke will occur.
 12. The invention as defined in claim 11further comprising:j. said dip means being axially slidably mounted onsaid frame, k. said dip means further including jerk meansinterconnecting said coating bin and said frame for quickly moving saidbin along said frame axis in said process direction from a restposition, m. said jerk means also providing for returning said bin tothe rest position.